Northfield, NJ

Not far from the gaming mecca of Atlantic City is the community of Northfield, where 8,000 people live, work, and play. Northfield's motto is "Gateway to the Shore" because it's in close proximity to New Jersey's beaches and is located in Atlantic County.

$379,000

$179,000

Between the years of 1830 and 1880, Northfield was busy with activity. Located near an old Native American trail, Northfield's locals were employed in the shipbuilding industry. The residents built schooners mostly. These ships brought cord wood to Manhattan. Clams were also dug up along the coastline and shipped to Philadelphia and New York for hungry diners to enjoy. Northfield was incorporated as a city in 1905.

The Northfield Community School District serves students in prekindergarten through the eighth grade. After the elementary school years, students attend Mainland Regional High School along with children from Linwood and Somers Point. Northfield operates under a city form of government that is led by a mayor and a seven-member City Council. Six Council members are chosen to three year terms on a staggered basis and the seventh member is elected at-large to a four-year term. An election for mayor is held every four years. The city is part of the 2nd Congressional District and the state's 2nd legislative district.

Birch Grove Park and Campground is located in Northfield and offers 51 campsites on 271 acres of land. The park offers nature trails for hiking and fishing lakes perfect for settling in for a day of rod casting. Swimming is not permitted. The park is open to campers from April through September. Non-campers can visit any day of the year.

Northfield has no shortage of restaurants to sate any appetite. There's the Northfield Diner; a smattering of Italian restaurants, including Ventura's Offshore Café; an eatery called The Spot that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and a Mexican restaurant called Chido Burrito. After dining out, many head over to the movie theater, which offers nine regular screens along with one IMAX for maximum viewing pleasure. Also, Northfield is home to the Atlantic City Country Club where the term "Eagle" was coined.

There are things to do, places to go, and people to see here in Northfield. Residents like the convenience of living near to the shore towns and many locals find jobs at the casinos or upscale stores in Atlantic City. Many people have lived within Atlantic County all their lives and choose to put down their roots in Northfield, while others have left the inner areas of New Jersey to settle close to the ocean.